Even if you feel like skipping his early career, the stats on his Rookie season are astounding.

"In his first NBA season, Chamberlain averaged 37.6 points and 27 rebounds, convincingly breaking the previous regular-season records. He needed only 56 games to score 2,102, which broke the all-time regular season scoring record of Bob Pettit, who needed 72 games to score 2,101 points.[39] Chamberlain was named NBA MVP and Rookie of the Year that season, a feat matched only by fellow Hall-of-Famer Wes Unseld in the 1968–69 NBA season, and broke eight NBA records."

He broke 8 NBA records in his ROOKIE season. Read the whole story. then tell me about "who's the greatest."

And " Chamberlain's 4,029 regular-season points made him the only player to break the 4,000-point barrier;[2] the only other player to break the 3,000-point barrier is Michael Jordan, with 3,041 points in the 1986–87 NBA season."

Indeed Hotshot!...Wilt will thrive in our current uptempo game that consists of athletic, quick, mobile big men. He doesn't only rely on his athleticism and length but looks to have a consistent (ugly looking) shot and a good feel for the game. It's difficult to say how he'll do against Shaq or Hakeem but I think he can hold his own. Remember...back in the days there were enough fouls that would be considered a flagrant and he took it like a warrior. As the greatest player of all time...he's definitely top 5

You cant just look at the stats and say because of that he's the greatest player ever that's just ignorant, Wilt was a great player, one of the pioneers of the game, but he wouldnt fair as well in the modern day NBA, but still he's one of the best players in NBA history

From what I read about Wilt, he seemed to care more about stats then about winning. Basically he was the Andray Blatche of the 60's (but with way more talent). I think Wilt needed a coach that could have knocked some sense in to him like Jordan got with Phil, and later Kobe with Phil. And because he never had that coach, and the sense that winning actually matters more than personal achievements I would never consider him as the GOAT.

One of the dudes that gets no consideration for being the GOAT is Kareem Abdul Jabbar, six time NBA champion, six time MVP, all time leading scorer and one of the most dominant players of all time. Im not saying hes the best, but KAJ is right up there

You cant just look at the stats and say because of that he's the greatest player ever that's just ignorant, Wilt was a great player, one of the pioneers of the game, but he wouldnt fair as well in the modern day NBA, but still he's one of the best players in NBA history

It is a little disingenuous to say "...he wouldn't fair as well in the modern day NBA" since in his playing days, there was virtuallyt no off-season training, teams didn't have dedicated strength coaches working with individual players, less attention was paid to nutrition etc. You only have to look at his size, agility, speed, passing ability, and rebound numbers (indicative of eye on the ball and great positioning) to know he would be a super star in today's NBA, given all of the training, scouting, etc. advantages of todays players.

Watching him play as a 300 pound 35 year old, still showing that level of speed, balance, court awareness and strength tells me pretty much all I need to know. There will never be an answer to "Who is the Greatest" question, but whenever that question is asked, Chamberlains name can fairly be considered.

You gotta understand though, at the time there was no 3 in the key or 3 pt line. Why take jumpshots when you can just give the ball to a guy camping in the key for 24 seconds? It's a completely different game. There's no way Wilt would be the same if he played today. He'd be a dominant center but far from the greatest of all time.

You gotta understand though, at the time there was no 3 in the key or 3 pt line. Why take jumpshots when you can just give the ball to a guy camping in the key for 24 seconds? It's a completely different game. There's no way Wilt would be the same if he played today. He'd be a dominant center but far from the greatest of all time.

Faster paced game, more restrictions, athletic players.

But also, Wilt was for sure one of the most skilled/athletic big men to ever play the game. To each his own.

Wilt didn't face the nightly competition that Jordan did. Wilt was before his time but what do you think Magic Johnson would have done back then? The man could play all five positions and started in the finals as a rookie at center.

But also, Wilt was for sure one of the most skilled/athletic big men to ever play the game. To each his own.

We need to consider the eras they played in too because I'm pretty sure Shaq and The Dream would annihalte anything and almost everybody in that era as well. Shaq was a wrecking machine that could not be stopped even with three grown men hanging off him.

We need to consider the eras they played in too because I'm pretty sure Shaq and The Dream would annihalte anything and almost everybody in that era as well. Shaq was a wrecking machine that could not be stopped even with three grown men hanging off him.

young shaq was a grown fucking man. if i had to choose my starting center for the next ten years it would be shaq with a nod to robinson.

johnsons first year as starting center for the lakers shows how awesome he was because he then shifted to starting point guard. that is sick

Can't believe I got to the end of this thread and no one brought up Bill "Rings" Russell. I only truly watched Kareem as he was a bald old man as a kid. I have been lucky enough to have had raps/nbatv for 4 or 5 years and have watched a lot of hardwood classics games but it's hard to really get a feel for a players career when you can only watch a handful of their games. During the lockout they showed whole playoff series which was great. Still, the NBA game has changed so much, especially since the merger with the ABA. I mean how can you ever truly compare doctor j to anyone when he was on the decline athletically by the time the nets became an nba team?

All that being said, wilt put up insane numbers but was a bit of a prima donna from what ive read. Kareem won more on every level and gave the world the skyhook. Bill Russell, however, changed the game on an historic level. He defined the warrior mentality, was the most dominate leader arguably ever and radically changed the way the game is played at both ends of the floor with his defense.

Jordan is GOAT, IMO, but BR is a close second with Magic and Larry legend rounding out the top 4. After that it's a crap shoot.

young shaq was a grown fucking man. if i had to choose my starting center for the next ten years it would be shaq with a nod to robinson.

johnsons first year as starting center for the lakers shows how awesome he was because he then shifted to starting point guard. that is sick

Robinson? For real? The admiral was a great player but 'Keem the dream was head and shoulders better.

Also magic never started at center except that one legendary playoff game. You might be confusing him with Ervin Johnson but Earvin "magic" Johnson was always a pg/forward and started at point his rookie year.